Pete Wahlheim returns to Seton Catholic as football coach

Pete Wahlheim, who led Chandler Seton Catholic to 11-win seasons in 2003 and '06, is returning to the program where he had the most success as an Arizona high school football coach.

The school announced Monday that Wahlheim is the new head football coach. He becomes the third coach in two years. Gary Galante left before last season to become an assistant coach at Phoenix Barry Goldwater High School. Interim coach Mike Chiurco dropped out of the running for permanent coach last month when he said he was joining Bruce Arians' staff at the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Pete Wahlheim has been named the head football coach at Seton Catholic.(Photo11: Provieded)

Wahlheim, who was head football coach at Mesa Dobson the last two seasons, led Seton's program from 2001-06, before going to Gilbert Highland to be the head coach.

The 2003 Seton team lost to a Jeremy Hathcock-coached Show Low team in the 3A state final.

“Coach Wahlheim has a history of success,” Seton Catholic Athletics Director Matt Mayo said in a news release. "In addition to being a great coach, he has demonstrated an outstanding ability to develop his players into men of faith and character."

Wahlheim is thrilled to be back.

"I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to return to Seton," Wahlheim said in a text. "Not many coaches have the opportunity to go back to school a second time and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity. The Seton family is very special and I look forward to being part of that again."

Seton has won two state football titles, in 1997 and 2012.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.